PD accused of 'double standards' in undersecretary row

Probe notice insufficient for resignation, says party

(ANSA) - Rome, March 6 - The centre-left Democratic Party
(PD) of Premier Matteo Renzi came under fire Thursday for
allegedly applying two weights and two measures in relation to
four undersecretaries from the party facing criminal
investigation after saying they would not be asked to resign.

On Tuesday the firebrand leader of the anti-establishment
5-Star Movement (M5S) Beppe Grillo called for the resignation of
Culture Undersecretary Francesca Barracciu, Transport
Undersecretary Umberto Del Basso de Caro, Health Undersecretary
Vito De Filippo and Interior Undersecretary Filippo Bubbico,
under investigation respectively for for allegedly embezzling
party funds, missing expense reports and abuse of office.

His call came after Transport Undersecretary Antonio
Gentile of the New Centre Right (NCD), a minor ally in Renzi's
left-right coalition, stepped down amid accusations he
strong-armed a local newspaper not to publish a piece about
allegations his son was implicated in corruption in
health-sector contracts.

However Parliamentary Relations Minister Maria Elena Boschi
of the PD told parliament that the government would not "ask for
resignation of ministers or undersecretaries on the basis of a
notice of investigation".

Former agriculture minister Nunzia Di Girolamo of NCD
denounced the "double standards" of the centre-left "which
behaves in one fashion with us, with Berlusconi and with all
those who see things differently, while it is very permissive,
libertarian and sometimes distracted with its own party
members".

Di Girolamo herself bowed to calls to resign from the
cabinet led by Renzi's predecessor Enrico Letta in January
following the publication of transcripts of recordings of her
conversations regarding health-sector appointments in the
southern province of Benevento stemming from an investigation in
which she was however not being probed.

"We are telling Renzi to avoid applying two weights and two
measures, the law is equal for all undersecretaries," said
Ignazio Messina, leader of the small centre-left party Italy of
Values (IdV), adding that the PD knew its four undersecretaries
were under investigation when they were nominated.
However on Wednesday Deputy Premier and NCD leader Angelino
Alfano said his party "respected the PD's decision" concerning
its undersecretaries.